Saturday, April 28, 2012

"Pursuit" is the image I selected for the postcard for my upcoming exhibit "Habitat Inhabitants", I feel this particularly fits our theme of co-existance. I have long had the fascination with the idea that some animals are real survivalists, and while pigeons are well known for this, being "city birds"—I really wanted to focus on the peregrine falcon here. With the help of conservation efforts it has really made a remarkable recovery (back from DDT pesticide poisoning), and can now be seen adapting very well to habitats such as in cities like Philadelphia that I've chosen for the backdrop for the painting.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

As time draws nearer to the opening of the "Habitat Inhabitants" exhibit, there are many things to work on. First on the list is just keep painting, the press releases, post cards, etc. and ultimately what paintings will be displayed that link to the theme of "coexistance of humanity with nature".

One of the pieces I have chosen for the show is "Reality Check". This piece was inspired by a trip to St. John the Divine Cathedral in NYC. The wonderful grotesques and adornments on the building are just wonderful and you could spend months just viewing them. I took one look at the section of a doorway and had the idea of contrasting sculpture of birds with real birds. The species of birds I have depicted here also have a great story of their own and are true survivors. House finches were once brought to the east coast from the western US and Mexico as pets, and in 1940 a few released birds from Long Island, not only survived but thrived.

"Reality Check" fits the theme, it not only has a man-made setting, but man has also had a major influence on the history of these birds.

Accomplished artists Beatrice Bork and Michael Schweigart are excited to present “Habitat Inhabitants” at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville NJ, this May. Their paintings will visually explore the coexistence of humanity with nature, reflected in the transformation of landscapes and animals bringing joy and drama in some unlikely places.

Both Beatrice and Michael draw inspiration from the outdoors and the intricacies of their subjects. Michael’s landscape oil and acrylic paintings enamor the viewer with breath-taking detail and sense of atmosphere. His work finds the drama in both the beautiful vista, and turns the ordinary scene into the extraordinary. While Beatrice’s unique watercolors focus on animal subjects with stunning detail and dramatic background washes. With these artistic elements, Beatrice creates a feeling of the moment and a sense of revealing the inner thoughts of her subjects.

Artists' Gallery is open Friday/Saturday/Sunday 11am – 6pm, or by appointment. For directions to the gallery please click here.

Other Info.:

• Specializing in Watercolor
• Signature member of the Society of Animal Artists
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All images are copyright of Beatrice Bork. No image may be linked to, or downloaded without express written consent and rights authorization. Please contact me at www.beatricebork.artspan.com for more information